Parents often wonder: What can we do to maintain our kids healthy? Are there ways to spice up the immune system and stop covid, cold, flu and other diseases?
The answer is yes – but there aren't any magic wands or magic supplements. The best strategy to keep the immune system healthy is, mainly, to take the crucial steps to remain healthy. As boring because it sounds, it's tried and true.
Here's what you may do to assist keep your kids healthy this school yr.
Give them healthy food.
By “healthy,” I mean a weight loss program with plenty of vegetables and fruit (five servings a day are beneficial, they usually should take up half of every meal plate), whole grains, and lean protein. A healthy weight loss program also includes dairy or one other source of calcium and healthy fats, corresponding to vegetable oils.
Foods to avoid are processed foods, foods with added sugar, and foods high in unhealthy fats, corresponding to saturated fat present in animal products. This doesn't mean that your child can never eat cookies or ice cream. But if you happen to want your child to be healthy, he shouldn't eat that food on daily basis. (Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition There are suggestions for Healthy Baked Goods and other ways to make your loved ones's weight loss program healthier).
There are many supplements that claim to spice up your immune system. While the jury continues to be out on whether most of those make an actual difference, none of them replace a healthy weight loss program. If you've got a baby who refuses vegetables or otherwise has a restricted weight loss program, a multivitamin with iron may make sense. Talk to your doctor about whether vitamins or supplements are an excellent idea to your child.
Make sure they get enough sleep.
We all need sleep to refresh and recharge our bodies, and that features children. The amount of sleep a baby needs varies by age (from 12 to 16 hours a day for babies to eight to 10 hours a day for teenagers) and from child to child (some need greater than others). ). You can encourage healthy sleep by limiting screens — for teens, devices ought to be turned off an hour or two before bed and preferably out of the bedroom at night — and keeping to a daily schedule. Should.
Make them energetic
Exercise keeps us healthy and fewer prone to get sick. Children should really be energetic for an hour a day. “Active” doesn't mean playing sports or going to the gym. It could be playing within the playground or going for a walk. More shouldn't be necessarily higher. If you've got a baby who's a serious athlete, exercising several hours a day, be sure that the exercise isn't eating away at sleep or causing burnout, each of which might cause problems with the immune system. can do Speaking of which…
Manage stress.
Stress makes us less healthy and more susceptible to infections. Make sure kids have time to play, and access to activities and folks that make them glad (or whatever version of this pandemic allows). Spend time together as a family, and create opportunities to your children to discuss anything that's troubling them. Talk to your doctor if you've got concerns about your child's mood or emotional health.
Make sure they're up thus far on necessary vaccines.
Immunizations protect us from every kind of diseases. Check along with your doctor in case your child is up thus far on immunizations. A yearly flu shot is beneficial for everybody 6 months of age and older.
Don't forget easy precautions
Everyone within the family can take easy precautions to assist stay healthy. Wash your hands. Cover your coughs and sneezes along with your elbow. Stay away from sick people as much as possible. Masks can even help, especially in crowded indoor spaces.
If your child has a health problem which will make it harder to fight off an infection, check with your doctor about additional or different precautions.
Follow me on Twitter. @drClaire